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  • 5 ways to know she’s ready for you to propose

    Even though the old saying goes “when you know, you know,” there are certain signs that it’s time to pop the question that you should look for. Here are ways to ensure she wants you to propose.

    1. She talks about your future together: This is one of the biggest signs your girlfriend wants to take your relationship to the “next step” and get engaged. If she constantly talks about your life together, possibly including buying a house, having children, moving somewhere, etc., she can definitely see a future with you and her being so open about this probably means that she wants you to propose.

    2. She brings you to every family gathering: If you two get married, you will officially become a part of each other’s family. If your girlfriend has been thinking about getting married, she’s probably made efforts to invite you to her family get-togethers. She wants her family to get to know you and vice-versa because she knows that if you get married, you’ll be part of this family! If your girlfriend is obviously pushing to include you in her family, this could be a sign that she wants you to officially join the family, meaning she wants you to propose.

    Read More: Why Nigerian men delay marriage proposals

    3. She starts the ‘baby’ talk, even if on a lighter note: This is one topic that even some married couples struggle to address. If your girlfriend randomly drops hints about how she likes babies or shares about her ideas of motherhood, it means she is comfortable talking about children with you. Remember, motherhood is not an easy topic to talk about with anyone unless a woman is comfortable with the person.

    4. She drops hints about how her friends are getting married: Does your girl keeps reminding you about her married friends and frequently expresses how happy she is for them? This might be a good sign that she looks at marriage with a positive attitude and takes inspiration from her married friends. It’s time to fetch the ring if she is surrounded by married couples and she loves spending time with them.

    5. She tells you: If she’s ready to get engaged, not all signs your girlfriend gives you will necessarily be “indirect.” In fact, she might just be straight-forward and tell you that she really wants to get engaged to you. This “sign” is difficult to misinterpret – there’s really no denying that she wants you to propose.

  • Troops kill 2 bandits in Kaduna, recover weapons

    Troops killed two bandits and recovered some weapons after they raided one of their den in Gonan Bature East of Rijana and Kasarami farmhouse in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Army Spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed this in a statement, saying the bandits occupied the abandoned Kasarami farmhouse and used it as shelter and a place to keep kidnapped victims.

    Read Also: Troops repel fresh Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri

    Musa listed the recovered weapons as two AK 47 rifles, two AK 47 magazines, 51 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and two techno cell phone

    He pledged the Nigerian army’s committed and determined to protecting life and property of the citizens and urged the public to always provide useful information to tackle terrorism, banditry and other crimes in the country.

  • FEC okays N970.2m for provision of barracks for Nigeria Customs

    The Federal Executive Council(FEC) on Wednesday approved the sum of N970.2 million for the proving of residential accommodation for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The meeting lasted late into the night.

    Ahmed said that the accommodation was important because the NCS, being a para-military organisation, was trying to ensure that its members of staff were kept in barracks.

    “The Nigeria Customs got approval today for acquisition of residential accommodation for the staff of the service.

    “What the Customs is acquiring is an estate that has a total of 42 flats and the total cost is N152 million per block of six units.

    “The approval that we got today is in the total sum of N970.2 million inclusive of VAT.”

    She said that the NCS, in its desire to upgrade its services to international best practice in information and communication, also got an approval to procure modern communication gadgets.

    She listed some of the gadgets as HF radios, BHF radios, walkie talkies, cable towers and accessories.

    The minister said that the gadgets were necessary for the Nigeria Customs to enhance its end to end encryption of messages delivery to avoid tapping by unscrupulous elements, smugglers and their cohorts.

    “The need has become necessary because of increased onslaught by the service on smuggling and other illegal economic activities.

    “The contract that was approved is in the total sum of N247.907 million inclusive of five per cent VAT and the equipment will be delivered within a period of eight weeks.’’

    Ahmed said that the third paper that was approved for the ministry was an automation project that it had been working on for a very long time.

    According to her, the Project Lighthouse is an initiative of the Ministry of Finance—a data warehousing system that is integrating different tax related data for the purpose of accurate and effective revenue assessment.

    She said the project would also serve in the determination of assets and income status for both corporate and individual taxpayers.

    “It will help us improve on our tax revenue collection efforts both at the federal and states level.

    “The total project cost is in the sum of N710 million,’’ she said.

    On his part, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, said that FEC approved the award of contract for the construction of a secondary road linking the town of Dangara to Yaba within Kwali Area Council of FCT.

    He said that the road was a continuation of the administration’s infrastructure development which covered the city itself and the surrounding satellite towns.

    Read Also: Ministry, Customs to create special tariff for vessel acquisition

    Bello said that the contract was awarded in the sum of N1.8 billion inclusive of five per cent VAT and timeline of 18 months.

    The minister said that contracts were also awarded for supply of equipment and purchase of water tanker for some agencies under the FCT.

    “The second projects is a project for the supply of heavy-duty equipment for use by the Development Control Department of FCT under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    “These equipment are used by the Development Control to effect needed adjustments to buildings and structures that have contravened set regulations particularly the Abuja MasterPlan which we all know is something that we guard jealously.

    “The contract is at the cost of N147.2 million

    “The third approval was for the purchase of water tanker and water tenders-four each for the FCT Fire Service.

    “ It is meant to improve the complement of equipment and facilities that they have so that they will be in a better position to react to fire incidences so that there will minimal loss of life and damage to property,’’ he said.

    Bello said that third approval was for the sum of N725 million

  • Buhari to visit Chad Saturday for CEN-SAD meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Saturday for N’Djamena, Chad to participate in the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD).

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed the movement in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Shehu said Buhari and other regional leaders would join their host and current Chairperson of CEN-SAD Conference, President Idriss Deby Itno, to deliberate on political and security issues, among others.

    The presidential aide said the regional leaders would also deliberate on state of peace and ways to address multifaceted threats in CEN-SAD area, especially Boko Haram and refugees.

    He said that the leaders would make a declaration on the entry into force of CEN-SAD revised Treaty intended to fast track the realisation of the objectives of the body.

    “During the opening Session of the Conference, special Awards will be given to heads of state and military contingents in Mali, Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic and in the Lake Chad Basin,’’ Shehu further explained.

    Read Also: Buhari to security chiefs: be ruthless with bandits

    Created by the Treaty of Tripoli on Feb. 4, 1998, with six founding members, Nigeria joined the current 29-member regional economic community in 2001.

    The group seeks mainly to create a free trade area in Africa as well as to “strengthen peace, security and stability, and achieve global economic and social development of its members.”

    Delegations from 22 member-countries are expected at the extraordinary meeting of CEN-SAD holding at the Radisson Blu Hotel, N’Djamena.

    Sudan which is a member of CEN-SAD may not be represented at the meeting following socio-political uncertainties in the country caused by the removal of President Omar Al-Bashir from office by the Sudanese military on Thursday.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Al-Bashir, had earlier indicated interest to attend the CEN-SAD meeting holding from Friday to Saturday.

  • APC finally files petition against PDP’s victory in Bauchi

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi State on Friday filed a petition at the Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the victory of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Sen Bala Mohammed at the last gubernatorial poll.

    According to its chairman in the state, Uba Ahmed Nana, Gov Abubakar, the gubernatorial candidate of the party at the last governorship election, is seeking justice from the tribunal.

    “We are here to file a suit on behalf of the APC challenging the results of the governorship election in Bauchi State held some weeks ago.

    “What we want is Justice, as always from the Court because we know that the Court will do just that,” he said.

    It would be recalled that Governor Abubakar had backed down on his earlier decision to concede defeat following declaration of Bala Mohammed as the Governor-elect.

    The governor had said after due consultations with the national leadership of the APC, the party has agreed to go to court to reclaim his mandate from the PDP.

    He said it was a decision from the party hierarchy.

    Abubakar said: “The party has concluded its plans and has hired four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to file this suit in court in a short while from now.”

    But in a swift reaction, the state chapter of the PDP alleged the litigation initiated by the outgoing governor was only meant to waste government resources.

    It vowed court will validate its victory at the last governorship election.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Zainabari Yaya in an interview with newsmen, said it was ridiculous for the governor to allege that he was rigged out when he was the one with incumbency power and control of security agents.

    “Just like we won the case filed by the governor at federal high court in Abuja against the results of Tafawa Balewa local government, we will win again in tribunal.

    “We are ready to defend our mandate and over 50 independent lawyers have indicated interest to defend us in any court,” he said

  • Elumelu to IMF: provide alternatives to China loan

    Chairman of Heir Holdings, Tony Elumelu on Friday asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide other alternatives followings its warning to Nigeria to avoid China loans.

    Financial Counsellor and Director of the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department, Mr. Tobias Adrian, during the launch of the Global Financial Stability Report for April on Wednesday at the IMF/World Bank meetings in Washington D.C, United of America warned countries to make sure that when they borrow from abroad the terms are favorable.

    “In particular, we recommend that loans to countries should conform with Paris Club arrangements and that is not always the case of loans from China,” the IMF chief said.

    But Elumelu disagreed with IMF advice, saying nature abhors vacuum and so the IMF, World Bank and other development partners to provide alternatives that will create jobs.

    Elumelu, who was on a private visit to the State House, said: “My position is that nature abhors vacuum.

    “If you do not want Nigeria to take China loan, provide the alternative. Like I keep saying they should also support the development of entrepreneurs, they should look at ways to help us eradicate poverty in a manner that is sustainable.

    “For me, one of the surest ways to eradicate poverty is to ensure that our youths are gainfully employed through entrepreneurship.

    “Also to make sure that development agencies – IMF, World Bank and co help and support Nigeria to improve on her infrastructure, road transportation, access to electricity.

    Read Also: Elumelu seeks PPP to drive Africa’s economic growth

    “These are things that will help us improve on security in Nigeria. These are things that will help us increase prosperity through employment which is the most important thing. So, the advice is good but nature abhors vacuum.”

    Advising on the Next Level, Elumelu said it was time to work.

    “On the economy and the next level, let us just continue in what we are doing, improve on them, increase capacity.

    “I operate in the power sector, we are the biggest generator of electricity in Nigeria through Transcorp power and I know first hand what efforts government is doing.

    “But we need to do more, we need to convert gas to power, we need to compliment what is going on already in agric space and as you know there is peace and prosperity in that sector but we need to add a little zeal to it to be able to attract investors.

    “I think the elections are over and we need to move forward as a team, as a country so that our people will be better for it.”

  • Why kidnappings, killings persist, by Interfaith forum

    The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) on Friday attributed the unending kidnappings and killings in the country to lack of enough intelligence by security agencies.

    IDFP expressed that government has to act fast before the situation gets out of hand.

    The co-chairperson of IDFP, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, who spoke to reporters at the ongoing 2-day workshop on gender and child rights said the security agencies have all it take to fight the criminals.

    Sanni said adequate intelligence gathering amongst security operatives will help end what he described as the unfortunate development.

    He also called for synergy between local communities and security operatives to achieve positive change.

    His words: “Government should be in-charge of security with the collaboration of local community. Government cannot do it alone. The local community cannot do it alone.

    “But the problem we have is the fact that it seems that the security agencies are not on top of the situation. And government has to do something fast because the situation is becoming alarming and it almost all over the country.

    Read Also; Ijaw community decries military presence

    “Initially it was isolated to the northeast now it is moving to the northwest and now southwest and everywhere.

    “We need a lot of efforts from the government to tackle the security agencies to be on top of the situation.

    “But we as local people, we live with these criminals and we should be able to know where they are hiding and hibernating so as to collaborate with government to see that the situation is put in-check.

    “The security agencies have all it takes to fight these criminals. Every year we know how much is voted and budgeted for security, so where is all the money going to?

    “And I believe that the problem we really have is not having good intelligence.

    “If we have good intelligence we will be able to know where these criminal are hiding and fished out and punished.”

    On the gender and Child rights, the cleric said: “There are so many interventions about the rights of women but it is not localized. Some men do not want the women to know their rights. And there must be a balance.”

    The chairperson Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) Deaconess Victoria Ihesiulor complained that since 2003 when the Child’s Right Act was adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria 24 states out of 36 states of the federation have passed it as a state law.

  • Breaking: Umahi suspends auditor-general, others

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Friday suspended the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida from office over the latest communal crisis in the state.

    The governor also suspended other elected and appointed office holders from Igbeagu Community in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state because of the crisis.

    On April 9, Umahi suspended the chairmen of Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Councils and all elected and appointed office holders from Enyibichiri in Ikwo and Enyigba in Abakaliki over a communal clash.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Commissioner for Border, Peace and Internal Security, announced the suspension of the officials while addressing newsmen after the governor’s meeting with people from Igbeagu Community, involved in a boundary dispute with Ukele community in Cross River.

    Ugbala noted that the suspension, which took immediate effect would elapse when peace returned to the communities.

    “The affected persons include the Auditor-General of the state, Mr Innocent Nwida, Mr Cletus Nwakpu, Project Coordinator of the FADAMA 3 programme and His Royal Highness, Ogbonnaya Ukwa, among other political office holders.

    “The issue of whether the governor has the constitutional right to suspend the elected officers does not arise because they are constitutionally mandated to protect the lives and property of their people.

    “However, when an elected officer fails to perform this function, he has violated the constitution and should either resign, be suspended or charged to court.

    “The courts would interpret such issues further and we are expecting such situations with this decision taken,” Ugbala said.

    Read Also:  Umahi suspends two LG chairmen over communal clashes

    The commissioner berated the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for its inability to permanently resolve the bound disputes, including others in several parts of the state.

    “We sometimes doubt the sincerity of the Federal Government in settling such crisis and view the NBC as a toothless bulldog.

    “It has made several visits to the disputed areas even before the inception of the present administration but no decision has been made.

    “It is not our duty to demarcate the boundaries and the state government has attended all meetings convened by the NBC, being always disposed to peace.

    “We urge the commission to live up to its responsibilities because no land is worth the lives of the citizens.

    “The commission only makes ‘urban carol’ visits to the areas whenever there are clashes and we urge the media to mandate it to perform its duties.”

    The commissioner noted that Umahi would visit the affected areas on Saturday to assess the extent of damage and find a permanent solution to the crisis.

    “Stakeholders from the areas are enjoined to enlighten their people on ways of ensuring peace as the government will also look into issues concerning internally displaced persons,” he said.

  • 9th Assembly: North East APC backs South East for Speaker, endorses Onyeheocha

    Publicity Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North East geopolitical zone under the auspices of the APC Forum of Public Relations Officers have aligned with the agitation of the south-east geopolitical zone to produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 9th National Assembly.

    The APC spokespersons said their decision to align with the south-east is borne of the fact that all zones of the country should be allowed equal representation in the government in the spirit of fairness and justice.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Coordinator of the Forum, Aaron Artimas said in supporting the Southeast for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, they are not unaware of the zoning of the office and that of the Senate President to the South West and Northeast respectively by the national leadership of the party.

    Artimas said the Forum has endorsed Hon. Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha for the position of speaker, considering her wealth of experience as a four-time member of the House and a former local government Chairman with lot of grassroot support.

    He said: “Many eminent Nigerians have continued to assert that Nigeria’s democracy is still a work in progress. Indeed, this is very true to the extent that in the effort to perfect our union as a Nation, a lot still needs to be done.
    “As we all know, Nigeria has always stood on a political tripod, anchored on the three founding political regions, namely, the West, East and the North, which have now been further unofficially devolved into six geopolitical zones. The implication of this is that every political region should be given its own right of equal participation as envisioned by the founding fathers of our country.

    Read Also: Senate releases details of National Assembly’s 2018 budget

    “It is in line with this that we the forum of APC Public Relations officers of the North East sub-region wish to align and identify with our counterpart in the southeast in their agitation to shift the post of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives to their region.

    “The South East APC Public relations officers have already issued a press statement endorsing, Honourable Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

    “A four-time member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Onyejeocha represents many shades of national opinion, especially the much talked about gender issue.

    “Put together with her rich political background as a grass root politician, a former Local Government Chairman and an effective legislator, she is eminently qualified to represent her zone and to serve the country as a whole.

    “We are not unaware of the perceived or unofficial zoning of the positions of the Senate President and the Speaker House of Representatives to the North East and the South West respectively. While this policy remains a political decision, we still believe that the ultimate decision to this effect remains a function of members of the National Assembly.

    “As party officials, we are not opposed to the presumptive position taken by the national leadership of our party. But, we strongly believe that no decision is exhaustive or final, because of the imperative to look into the various sides of the new arguments regarding the zoning of the National Assembly Leadership.

    “The South East is craving for better participation and representation in the present political dispensation. The major crux of their demand is to enable the party to grow in that region going forward. This has nothing to do with the presumed low patronage of the party in the region.

    “We believe that it is very appropriate to give them this wonderful opportunity so as to carry all parts of the country along. It is for this reason that we hereby declare our solidarity with the South East in their quest to shift the leadership of the House of Representatives to the zone.

    “It will please us greatly, if the National Leadership of our party and indeed other leaders of the party will take a second look at its perceived position in this regard.”

  • Out-of-School children’s figure drops – Minister

    The Federal Government says the number of Out-of-School (OSC) Children in the country has reduced from 13.2 million to 10.2million, following various interventions of the government and development partners.

    The Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu said this at the 12th Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing on the OSC Phenomenon held in Abuja on Friday.

    Adamu, who was represented by Mr. Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that conflicting figures of out-of-school children were being given, ranging from 10 -13 million.

    Ministerial strategic plan states that Nigeria has 10.5 million children aged 6-14, out of school.

    However, a recent Demographic Health Survey (DHS) has shown that the population of out of school children in Nigeria has risen from 10.5 million to 13.2 million.

    According to him, the reasons adduced for this unfortunate phenomenon include, though, not limited to the following: financial incapacitation, violent conflicts and ignorance on the part of parents/guardians.

    He added that lack of political will to confront the ugly phenomenon, socio-cultural complexities, distance to schools; physically challenged children, child labour, migration and orphanage were other challenges of the OSC.

    He listed the most endemic states of the OSC to include: Kano, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Oyo, Benue Jigawa and Ebonyi.

    According to him, the concerns of this administration are two-fold; to find an empirical means of getting the figures right and the best ways of reducing the number to the barest minimum.

    “ln the last four years, therefore, we have been making efforts to determine the exact number of out-of-school children.

    “However, the good news is that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other stakeholders have been working towards this common goal of determining the number of children of school age who are not in school.

    “Similarly, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the World Bank, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), and other development partners are collaborating to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

    “For now, based on the recently conducted National Personnel Audit of both Public and Private schools, Nigeria has an estimated out of school children population of 10,193,918,’’ he said.

    Adamu explained that the ministry has, however, encountered some challenges in a bid to reduce the number of OSC.

    He enumerated the challenges as inadequate security due to banditry/insurgency, misconceptions about the value of education and slow implementation of UBEC programmes by States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).

    He listed other challenges to include: low draw down of matching grant by SUBEBs, inadequate funds for special education, inadequate grassroots needs assessment before project execution and wrong location of projects.

    Read Also: Senate releases details of National Assembly’s 2018 budget

    Adamu added that the ministry in collaboration with the National Mass Adult and Non-Formal Education Commission had also developed a template to capture the OSC within the space of the next five years.

    “We have sent out our team to countries like Pakistan and Indonesia that have similar issues with Nigeria and find a way they were able to overcome it.

    “We have also carried out advocacy and sensitisation programmes on monitoring and mentoring of School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) on school governance in 36 states and FCT.

    “Steps are being taken under UBEC to construct 2,493 new classroom, 2,457 VIP toilets,19 laboratories, 91boreholes, 1,266 renovated, classrooms, procured 192,985 pupils and 10,038 teachers’ furniture,’’ the minister said.

    He said these interventions would further reduce the number of OSC in the country.